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Subscribe to RSSWith all signs pointing to Mitt Romney selecting Paul Ryan as his VP running mate tomorrow in Norfolk, VA, Romney went bold. And here is First Read's looks at the strengths and weaknesses Ryan would bring the GOP presidential ticket.
Strengths:
- As chairman of the House Budget Committee, the 42-year-old Ryan is a young rising star in the GOP, and has become their chief spokesman when it comes to reducing the deficit and debt.
- Romney picking Ryan as his running mate would signal that he’s doubling down on an austerity/deficit-reduction message. Indeed, while the Obama campaign and Democrats could point to visible improvements with the economy over the past three years (a lower unemployment rate, stronger GDP growth), there hasn’t been much progress in reducing the deficit. The deficit was $1.4 trillion in FY ’09; $1.3 trillion in ’10; $1.5 trillion in ’11 (projected); and $1.1 trillion in ’12 (projected).
- Ryan hails from a battleground state -- Wisconsin -- where polls show Romney currently trailing Obama. Obama actually won Ryan’s district in 2008, 51%-47%.
- Comfort level: When Romney campaigned with Ryan in the lead-up to the April 3 Wisconsin primary, the two men demonstrated a rapport that we haven’t seen with other Romney surrogates.
- He would be a person who could please both the conservative intelligentsia and the Tea Party base.
Weaknesses:
- Ryan’s budget plan has become a lightning rod, and it will be a focus of Democratic attacks in the fall. The most controversial component of the plan is that it significantly transforms Medicare, which is regarded as the government’s most popular program.
- In addition to Medicare, Ryan was one of the driving forces to partially privatize Social Security after George W. Bush’s victory in the 2004 presidential election.
- There are also holes in Ryan’s budget-hawk armor: He voted for some of the biggest drivers of the deficit/debt -- the Bush tax cuts, the Iraq war, and the Medicare prescription-drug benefit, all of which weren’t paid for. Moreover, Ryan voted against the bipartisan Simpson-Bowles recommendations.
- Has never held statewide office and has no foreign-policy experience. Both could be liabilities.
- As a member of Congress, Ryan currently works in -- and is a relatively high-profile member of -- one of America’s least popular institutions.
- And while Romney has criticized Obama for not having private-sector experience, the same is largely true of Ryan: As the New Yorker has written, Ryan briefly worked for his family’s business as a “marketing consultant,” but most of his adult life has been spent as a congressman, congressional aide, or speechwriter/analyst at Jack Kemp’s Empower America think tank.
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Nothing like an ideologically committed ass-kisser...Romney will save big on TP.
So, the "Vulture" picked the "Voucher"....
Good news.
Obama 2012
I'd vote for McCain and Palin before Romney and Ryan. AT least McCain had a point of view that didn't change with his venue.
You're stagnate in your thinking --
Loretta, you need to get out of your Tea Party fantasy!
Land of Enchantment, its not about tea party. Don't complain when your paycheck is smaller, costs of product is higher, and your living worse than paycheck to paycheck. Just facts "gal". Don't think so?
@Land of Enchantment Gal - What are the chances it's a ploy and he's picking someone else?
Not sure what the odds are of this being a ploy or whatever. But someone made a good observation somewhere in this comment section that it may be Governor Bob McDonnell of Virginia. Why pick Viginia as the venue for VP announcement?
Because right now, in Virginia, there's a third-party "Tea Party" candidate, running on the Constitution Party ticket, who is currently polling at nine percent.
Romney needs those votes badly. VA is still in play, but not if ten percent of the electorate, mostly from Romney's side of the fence, decide to go third party.
Ryan will appeal to those voters, and may bring Wisconsin back into play. Probably at the cost of Florida, though.
And Ryan shares a lot of the blame for the U.S. credit downgrade.
Standard & Poor didn't mention him by name as the reason, but did blame the Republican leadership in the House for creating doubt about our willingness to pay our debts.
OMG -- you guys are laughable -- you think you know it all -- "he didn't mention him by name" please -- get some facts under your belt
Loretta, I'll quote directly from Standard and Poor's report:
"More broadly, the downgrade reflects our view that the effectiveness, stability, and predictability of American policymaking and political institutions have weakened at a time of ongoing fiscal and economic challenges to a degree more than we envisioned when we assigned a negative outlook to the rating on April 18, 2011."
And just who do you think was engaging in brinksmanship? Until the Republicans held the debt limit vote hostage, it had NEVER been even remotely used as a bargaining chip by either party over hundreds of such votes, precisely because it reflected on the trustworthiness of the United States.
People like Ryan and Boehner were openly speculating that maybe it wouldn't be such a bad thing if we defaulted. Well guess what? The ratings agencies listened to them, and it freaked them out. Hence the downgrade.
I am a HAPPY GUY!!!!!!
OBAMA/BIDEN 2012
You won't be on payday. Think farther than your nose.
Dear Mark and Domenico -- How can you print lower unemployment and when any intelligent person nows uembployment has remained steady at 8.4%? And, why didn't you say that obama has increased the deficit more in his tenure than all the presidents we've ever had? Granted Ryan's budget plan is a lightning rod, but isn't this what we need -- too tighten the purse strings of government spending. At least this country will have a budget -- Democrats have worked without one for 3 years -- why don't you say that? What does Romney criticizing obama for not having private sector experience have anything to do with Paul Ryan -- Romney and Obama are running for president. If Ryan is Romney's pick, he is running for VP -- why are you comparing proposed vice presdiential candidates to presidential candidates? Were you tasked with this article and these are the only pros and cons you could come up with? How about some good ole American honesty on your part --lay it out like it is. Don't be afraid to actually compare apples to oranges -- Republicans know Romney has good and bad points -- If Paul Ryann is the VP pick -- he too will have good and bad points -- But obama and biden -- they've had 4 years to CHANGE this country and at this point in time we are again faced with higher food costs, higher gasoline costs, no way of obtaining a loan from a bank to buy a home, or modify current loans. Our health care system is in shambles -- and speaking of that, why don't you report on the people that are going to have to close their businesses because of the new health care laws -- Come on -- get the bias out of your back pocket and put some fairness into your reporting -- pros and cons -- true pros and cons.
Loretta - Paragraghs please - with a new thought
I really hate a run on words - I would be glad to read your post if it was accordingly written under English standards
John Kerouac is dead
Your English teacher failed you miserably
Barbara, your showing your true lazy liberal way. Careful...it is what most of us in this country hate!
Who is John Kerouac?
Best choice ever. The article above listed more liabilities than assets, typical. Let me list a few more assets: pro-life 100%, honest, religious, intelligent, young, bold, in line with the new generation, not the old, white, liberal, hippie, elitist "intelligencia." And I'm 60. Thanks.
It doesn't matter who Romney chooses, they will both be subjected to the same Chicago style mugging from Axelrod and his Boss. That coupled with the uphill battle of trying to get fair treatment in the media will give the republicans an increasingly difficult time. I predict that once again the party of inclusion and tolerance will show their true colors till the end.
This bunch won't wake up till we're all wearing uniforms, riding bikes, and rioting in the streets like the poor saps in Greece. And you all think it can't happen in this country? The more govt. handout receipients, the more people Obama can scare.Those evil republicans aren't interested in getting this country's financial house in order, they just hate poor people. Obama loves them so much that he's doing his best to create more of them. And a fine job he seems to be doing so far.
"Chicago style mugging"....great, more whining from people on the side who made "Swiftboating" and "birther" words you can find in a dictionary. "They can't do that to us! That's what we do to others!"
My initial thought is how he reminds me of people I've met in business who read the books but have little understanding of cause and effect or input drivers.
His budget tells me he's probably the smartest man in the room but it's a room of emotion not intellect.
His failure to vote for Bowles Simpson shows he's not serious.
And I was hoping for Cheney, Rumsfeld or Rove!! Blasphemy!! I say, blasphemy! And this is what the party came up with after Herman Cain went down in flames? Herman Cain wouldn't give a woman an equal game, was the party's first string team even when they all knew he was a scumbag. Romney is nothing more than second string... a distant second string at best to Cain? Guess no one in the party wanted the VP gig. Can't blame them. Ryan, go back to Wall Street!! I didn't vote for Obama, he is what we got and I gotta live with it. But this party's Howdie Doody and Mortimer Snurd team is mighty short in what this nation needs. I'd hate to see this party's nods for a Presidental Cabinet. YIKES!! I'm switching to the Green Party! At least I know where they don't stand. Gotta find me a tree to hug 'cause I won't have a pot to piss in if these wooden heads were to win!!
How ignorant are those that want more of the same with this president? I really don't understand the love of gas prices 200% higher now than when they were the first day Your Mamma got into the White House. Unemployment is higher. and we are 4 trillion dollars higher in debt than 3 and half years ago. I guess everyone wants more government intervention in their lives. It kind of makes sense with the lack of a work ethic in our society these days . . Socialism ? In America? Who would have ever thought of that. Wow, people are really ignorant.
ROMNEY AND RYAN! THE BLIND LEADING THE BLIND!
Now thats a fitting picture. Two peas in a pod, both brainless, just morans hand in hand, to no were. Only problem is thay are trying to take the US there too.
“A Nightmare on Easy Street…for Republicans,” a film by the American People:
President Obama is re-elected handily in November. The Democrats also reach a super-majority in the Senate and recapture the House.
Now the fun begins.
Hillary Clinton tenders her resignation as Secretary of State in early December,
effective at noon on Inauguration Day in January, 2013.
President Obama nominates popular and highly-regarded former U.N. Ambassador and ex-Governor of New Mexico Bill Richardson to succeed Hillary at the State Department.
Eric Holder quietly resigns as Attorney General a few months into 2013, neutralizing the animus of the Right regarding Fast and Furious while at the same time effectively neutering chief inquisitor Darrel Issa himself, an act for which Holder is awarded the Medal of Freedom.
President Obama nominates New York Governor Andrew Cuomo to replace departing Attorney General Holder, effectively opening the door for Hillary Clinton to run for and win the Governorship of her home state, New York.
With her election to the New York statehouse, Hillary fills the only remaining gap in her resume, that of Chief Executive of a large mid-Atlantic state, providing her with the day-to-day managerial expertise which so many on the Right claim is essential to any legitimate national candidate possessing presidential aspirations.
As Governor of New York, Hillary leads the way for the wholesale statewide implementation of the Affordable Care Act, establishing a paradigm for other states across the nation while simultaneously fulfilling her lifelong dream, begun as First Lady in 1992, of providing affordable quality health care to a beleaguered populace.
Having comfortably and strategically distanced herself from the day-to-day operations of the ground-breaking Obama Presidency, Hillary positions herself for her own run for the Oval Office in 2016.
Secretary of State Bill Richardson is positioned to accept the nomination of his party as Democratic Vice-Presidential candidate in 2016, thereby blunting the attractiveness of Christie’s selection of either Rubio or Cruz to a growing number of Hispanic voters while at the same time energizing the Democratic base of the western states.
Upon their historic victory, powered in no large part by the unanticipated emergence of a coalition of bipartisan women voters who see in Hillary’s candidacy their greatest near-term opportunity to shatter once and for all the glass ceiling inside the White House, President Hillary Clinton now leads the way for the nationwide implementation of the Affordable Care Act, laying the groundwork for what will become within her second term the ultimate prize of Single-Payer in the form of Medicare-for-All.
Upon the anticipated death of an aging Justice Scalia or the unanticipated institutionalization of either Justice Thomas or Justice Alito within her Presidency, President Clinton sets another historic precedent by placing in nomination the name of a humbled and grateful former President Barack Hussein Obama as Justice on the Supreme Court, the first American to have served in each of the three branches of the federal government, effectively restoring a Center-Left majority which upholds and affirms Medicare-for-All, and while so doing publishes the most succinct majority opinion in the history of American jurisprudence, invoking the age-old populist axiom: “IT’S CONSTITUTIONAL, BITCHES!”
President Clinton and Vice-President Richardson serve through 2024, by which time the United States of America has succeeded in colonizing Mars under Space Admiral Newt Gingrich and the emotionless, pointy-headed science officer “Dr.” Rush Limbaugh, selected by President Clinton for the win-win potential of the appointments. Republicans migrate en masse.
The End.
No animals were injured in the production of this 'Nightmare for Republicans'.
Wow, The final destruction of the greatest nation on earth. And you did it so quickly. Glad I,ll be dead, but I so worry for my grandkids.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE your scenario!!
Wow.....We really are in trouble...
Quit copy and pasting your BS! How many times you going to post your garbage? Geezus.
Jerry,
Enough to annoy the hell out of you. In fact, here's an updated and revised version with plenty of new twists and a more comical ending brought to you by other readers:
“A (Revised) Nightmare on Easy Street,” a film for Republicans written, produced, and directed by the American People:
President Obama is re-elected handily in November. The Democrats also reach a super-majority in the Senate and recapture the House.
Now the fun begins.
Hillary Clinton tenders her resignation as Secretary of State in early December,
effective at noon on Inauguration Day in January, 2013.
President Obama nominates popular and highly-regarded former U.N. Ambassador and ex-Governor of New Mexico Bill Richardson to succeed Hillary at the State Department.
Eric Holder quietly resigns as Attorney General a few months into 2013, neutralizing the animus of the Right regarding Fast and Furious while at the same time effectively neutering chief inquisitor Darrel Issa himself, an act for which Holder is awarded the Medal of Freedom.
President Obama nominates New York Governor Andrew Cuomo to replace departing Attorney General Holder, effectively opening the door for Hillary Clinton to run for and win the Governorship of her home state, New York. With her election to the New York statehouse, Hillary fills the only remaining gap in her resume, that of Chief Executive of a large mid-Atlantic state, providing her with the day-to-day managerial expertise which so many on the Right claim is essential to any legitimate national candidate possessing presidential aspirations.
As Governor of New York, Hillary leads the way for the wholesale statewide implementation of the Affordable Care Act, establishing a paradigm for other states across the nation while simultaneously fulfilling her lifelong dream, begun as First Lady in 1992, of providing affordable quality health care to a beleaguered populace.
Having comfortably and strategically distanced herself from the day-to-day operations of the ground-breaking Obama Presidency, Hillary positions herself for her own run for the Oval Office in 2016.
Secretary of State Bill Richardson is positioned to accept the nomination of his party as Democratic Vice-Presidential candidate in 2016, thereby blunting the attractiveness of GOP presidential nominee Chris (“I’m not an actual bully!”) Christie’s selection of either Marco (“I’m not an actual Mormon!”) Rubio or Ted (“I’m not an actual Latino!”) Cruz as running mate to a growing number of staunchly Roman Catholic Hispanic voters while at the same time energizing the Democratic base in the western states.
Upon their historic victory, powered in no small part by the unanticipated emergence of a coalition of bipartisan women voters who see in Hillary’s candidacy their greatest near-term opportunity to shatter once and for all the glass ceiling inside the White House, President Hillary Clinton now leads the way for the nationwide implementation of the Affordable Care Act, laying the groundwork for what will become within her second term the ultimate prize of Single-Payer in the form of Medicare-for-All.
Upon the anticipated death of an aging Justice Scalia or the unanticipated institutionalization of either Justice Thomas or Justice Alito within her Presidency, President Clinton sets another historic precedent by placing in nomination the name of a humbled and grateful former President Barack Hussein Obama as Justice on the Supreme Court, the first American to have served in each of the three branches of the federal government, effectively restoring a Center-Left majority which upholds and affirms Medicare-for-All, and while so doing publishes the most succinct majority opinion in the history of American jurisprudence, invoking the age-old populist axiom: “IT’S CONSTITUTIONAL, BITCHES!”
President Clinton and Vice-President Richardson serve through 2024, by which time the United States of America has succeeded in colonizing Mars under Space Admiral Newt Gingrich, his pseudo-intellectual pointy-headed science officer, Rush Limbaugh, and Communications Officer Sarah “I can see Jupiter from my house!” Palin, each selected by President Clinton for the win-win potential of the appointments. Ultra-conservatives, including Jerry, migrate en masse.
In their first transmission from the appropriately named ‘Red Planet,’ Dr. Ron
Paul is overheard shouting “Damn it, Newt, I’m a doctor not a bricklayer!”
Fade to black.
[No animals were injured in the production of this Right Wing nightmare.]
I can't wait for Biden-Ryan VP debate. This will be like watching wings picked off a fly. Biden is a lightweight - an idiot - a vaporhead. Ryan will slam dunk Biden.
Ryan will go after Obama and will make points. He is a pitbull and has already given Obama more than he cares to handle.
Obama will have increasing issues with gaffes as his cool and calm demeanor disappears and the true hot head, racist, bigot, socialist finds himself being skinned by truthful and direct attacks on his incompetence.
Good pick, Mitt! I can't wait to vote for this ticket!
I agree. I like Ryan for the same reason I would have liked to see Gingrich as the nominee.
The debates will be like watching a battle between somebody armed with a tactical nuke vs somebody throwing stones.
not real bright huh?
Makes sense. Since the V-P is a do nothing job, pick someone who has the experience that matches from a do nothing Congress.
**Romney/Ryan
Romney will be nominated and Paul Ryan will join as his VP. Conservatives will be more comfortable and hard working, family orientated, American middle class will help throw out the Marxist. Putin and Chavez will be very disapointed.
The electoral map disagrees with you. Ryan costs Romney Florida and possibly Ohio, making it impossible for Romney to get enough electoral votes. Today is the day Romney lost the election.
He's no sarah palin. But then again, who is???
ALl I know is thank God we have another vote in 4 years. Obama needs to be GONE....and if Romney is our only choice then so be it...... but we have to get Obama out of the white house. I also do not want him back in Illinois either....he is one messed up president who is only there for the SHOW!!!!
I think he just guaranteed a landslide victory & 2nd term for the most incompetent charlatan of a President as we've ever seen. God help us all !
you were sleeping perhaps during the Bush-Cheney years?
Well Mr. Romney I do believe can get the economy moving again for a short term.His strongest points are creating jobs.I don't agree with him sending jobs over seas, which left our country cripple from the decisions that were made. Although I believe he had a small play in these decisions of downsizing . When I say cripple I am speaking of leaving our country to defend for itself without the big players of companies who has or had at the time plenty of work for us Americans. They were moved , because they did not want to Pay higher Taxes. It's selfish of the companies . I assume Mr. Romney was a part of that scheme. But in any event we all have to work together. What I would really like to see, the laws change in Washington, the policy for the Presidency. It's dangerous to have elections when there are so many negative ,and up evil happening at this time. My take I would like congress to pass an amendment if there's active war, there could be no change in the commander of chief. They are automatically reelected for the next four years.
until said matters are stable or resolve, which ever comes first. I feel there should be an election for Vice President, Lets face it Biden is just taking space, he's not helping the administration. It's as if all the Vice Presidents are setting around to be the next ancestor if the President cease to exist. The vice presidents in the United States need a well define Job Roll, other then setting around, and being under handed to the administration. Ryan has to bring more to the table. Foreign Policy is a Must. I know Secretary of state handles the matters to a certain degree, but the vice president must be an active party as well. With all this said. Keep the President, elect Mitt Romney as the Vice President. Let the president continue his roll in foreign policy , and Mr. Romney creating Jobs. It will work.
The Republicans want control. They don't care what is best for the country. Look how they have dragged their feet for four years. Anything to make Obama look bad. Your ideas are naive.
This guy scares me as much as the governor in Wisconsin. He will try to do to the nation what Mr. Union Buster did to the state. A huge leap backwards in worker rights. Ryan has never worked, other than in Congress. He is not "of the people". He is a think tank elitist. Like the Tea Party, he has an agenda that he wants to push through, whether it is good for the people or not.
The main reason Ryan won't be VP: Romney
conservative intelligentsia in the Republican Party?????? - where are those people - I could not name one except Colin Powell - now there is a Republican -
Obama 2012
This article lost all credibility when it said Obama brought the unemployment rate down, it's up to 8.3% now. The GDP is only 1.3% which is not even keeping up with inflation..Yes, Ryan IS a member of the most unpopular group, yup..it's called congress and yes he did vote as stated...BUT..he did vote and not check PRESENT...He took a stance unlike Obama.